Published 6:55 pm, Saturday, September 5, 2015

Photo: Jason Fochtman

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Texas A&M defensive linemen Kingsley Keke and the rest of the Aggie defense tackle Arizona State University running back De'Chavon Hayes during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game at NRG Stadium Saturday September. less

Texas A&M defensive linemen Kingsley Keke and the rest of the Aggie defense tackle Arizona State University running back De'Chavon Hayes during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game at NRG Stadium ... more

In the offseason, after giving up 450 yards per game in 2014, Texas A&M had to make a change on the defensive side of the ball.

Enter coaching veteran John Chavis from LSU as the new Aggies defensive coordinator and his impact has been felt almost immediately.

“I think it was a good fit for us and a good fit for him too,” Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said after the Aggies’ 38-17 win against No. 15 Arizona State on Saturday. “A guy with knowledge, not just schematic knowledge but what he brings to the table in experience in big ball games in our league. I think the buy-in during the offseason was immediate.”

The Aggie defensive unit, led by Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall played about as good as one would hope in the season opener against a Top 25 foe.

Texas A&M racked up nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss, the most in the Sumlin era, forced four fumbles and nabbed a pair of interceptions by night’s end in a dominating performance.

“We were just letting them tee off,” Arizona State coach Todd Graham said. “You’ve got to vary your count. Myles (Garrett) he was across the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped. He was getting off the ball better than we were on offense. Obviously we did a poor job of handling that.”

On almost every play, the duo was in the backfield or busting up a play someway or somehow.

Garrett and Hall combined for six of the Aggies nine sacks, six and a half tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and 15 tackles.

“We just executed well,” Garrett said. “Coach (John) Chavis putting us in the right position to make plays and we just got it done.”

Since Chavis came into the building, Garrett said they have just bought in to what he has wanted to do in changing the culture with the Aggies.

As a unit, after getting rocked a few times last season, falling to then-No. 7 Alabama 59-0, then-No. 12 Mississippi State, 48-31, and then No. 3 Ole Miss, 35-20, Garrett said they have been striving for a game like this.

“We’re just playing with a chip on our shoulder,” Garrett said. “Everybody’s been downing us and saying we’re not going to do anything on defense. There was no place for us to go but up. We just have to take it from there and keep on going.”